1438.09 CONSTRUCTION OF FIRE PARTITIONS.
   (a)   Fire partitions shall have fire-resistance ratings of not less than two hours. They shall be constructed of approved masonry or reinforced concrete or other approved forms of construction of noncombustible materials. Fire partitions may be used for load bearing, provided that, in addition to meeting the requirements of this section, they conform to the requirements of this Building and Housing Code for bearing walls.
   (b)   Fire partitions shall be supported in each story of construction having a fire- resistance rating of not less than two hours. However, when they also are load bearing, the supporting construction shall have a fire-resistance rating of not less than four hours in case the building is of Type 1 (fireproof) construction or Type 2 (noncombustible) construction, and not less than two hours in buildings of other types of construction.
   (c)   The maximum unsupported height of a fire partition of masonry construction shall be thirty times its total thickness, unless suitably anchored and reinforced, and the length between intermediate supports or bracing shall not exceed twenty feet.
   (d)   Fire partitions shall be deemed continuous, even though the several parts are not directly over one another in successive stories, if the intervening parts of the floors at the levels where offsets occur are unpierced and of Type 1 (fireproof) construction or Type 2 (noncombustible) construction and all parts not supported directly on the foundations are carried on Type 1 (fireproof) construction.
(Ord. 42-1981. Passed 2-23-81.)